• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to secondary sidebar
  • NEWS:
  • SatNews
  • SatMagazine
  • MilSatMagazine
  • SmallSat News
  • |     EVENTS:
  • SmallSat Symposium
  • Satellite Innovation
  • MilSat Symposium

SatNews

  • HOME
  • Magazines
  • Events
  • Perspectives
  • Industry Calendar
    • IN PERSON
    • VIRTUAL
  • Subscribe

RUAG Space + OHB To Deliver Sunshield Solar Array For ESA’s PLATO Planet Hunting Mission

March 10, 2021

Space supplier RUAG Space will deliver the Sunshield Solar Array Subsystem for the European “planet-hunting” mission PLATO.
 
The “planet-hunting” mission PLATO (PLAnetary Transits and Oscillations of stars) of the European Space Agency (ESA) is a space-based observatory to find and study extrasolar planetary systems with emphasis on the properties of terrestrial planets in the habitable zone around solar-like stars. It is scheduled to launch in 2026.

RUAG Space and OHB signed a contract for the Sunshield Solar Array Subsystem. The contract is worth more than 20 million Swiss Francs. RUAG Space will provide mechanisms, structures (panels) as well as thermal insulation, a transport container and other ground support equipment. A solar array consists of several solar panels that generate electricity for the satellite. The solar array also shields the 26 cameras and electronic units of the PLATO observatory from the sunlight.

Artistic rendition of PLATO is courtesy of OHB.

The delivery of the hardware to OHB in Bremen, Germany, is scheduled for summer 2024.
  
“Our customer receives a complete subsystem from us from a single source. By this, our customer saves a lot of time and efforts. Our goal is to simplify our customers’ supply chain and make their lives easier,” said Oliver Schiewe, Senior Vice President Spacecraft at RUAG Space. “For RUAG Space providing subsystems is an important strategic step to deliver added value for a strongly changing space market.”

“We selected RUAG Space for this subsystem since they have best competences in design and development of highly complex mechanical, thermal and mechanism solutions. In addition, we are well acquainted with RUAG’s cooperative approach and fully confident to establish an effective working relationship for the success of our PLATO project,” added Wolfgang Paetsch, Board Member of OHB System AG.

The PLATO planet hunter spacecraft. Artistic impression courtesy of ESA.

Filed Under: Contracts, Manufacturing, Solar

Primary Sidebar

Most Read Stories

  • UPDATE: SpaceX launches 2 in 1 day... Inmarsat 6-F2 satellite launched from Florida and 51 Starlink satellites from California
  • UPDATE 3: Rocket Lab's Electron drives two Capella SAR sats to orbit from MARS launch site
  • LATEST UPDATE: On their way as NASA's CREW-6's human spaceflight mission to ISS is successful
  • UPDATE: Rocket Lab plans two launches that will be days apart from two continents for two companies: Capella Space + BlackSky
  • Space Systems Command (SSC) collaborates with NASA to launch Space Test Program-H9 experiments to the ISS

About Satnews

  • Contacts
  • History

Archives

  • March 2023
  • February 2023
  • January 2023
  • December 2022
  • November 2022
  • October 2022
  • September 2022
  • August 2022
  • July 2022
  • June 2022
  • May 2022
  • April 2022
  • March 2022
  • February 2022
  • January 2022
  • December 2021
  • November 2021
  • October 2021
  • September 2021
  • August 2021
  • July 2021
  • June 2021
  • May 2021
  • April 2021
  • March 2021
  • February 2021
  • January 2021
  • December 2020
  • November 2020
  • October 2020
  • September 2020
  • August 2020
  • July 2020
  • June 2020
  • May 2020
  • April 2020

Secondary Sidebar

x
Sign up Now (For Free)
Access daily or weekly satellite news updates covering all aspects of the commercial and military satellite industry.
Invalid email address
Notify Me Regarding ( At least one ):
We value your privacy and will not sell or share your email or other information with any other company. You may also unsubscribe at anytime.

Click Here to see our full privacy policy.
Thanks for subscribing!